Indian Test team vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane explains the reason behind Ravichandran Ashwin's absence from the squad for the opening Test against West Indies in Antigua.

Courtesy: AP/Twitter (@BCCI)&nbsp

Key Highlights

R Ashwin was snubbed for a spot in the playing XI for India vs West Indies first Test

Ashwin has 552 runs and 60 wickets to his name against West Indies

Ajinkya Rahane highlighted the overall team balance as the reason behind's Ashwin's absence

It's been long since Ravichandran Ashwin lost his place in the Indian limited-overs sides, with wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal being preferred. However, Ashwin continued to remain a vital cog in the Indian line-up as far as the Test cricket was concerned. Despite being fully fit and ready to put in a shift for the national side, the Tamil Nadu-born offie was snubbed for a place in the playing XI in the opening Test against West Indies in Antigua, with Ravindra Jadeja being the sole spinner in the team.

The past few months have seen Jadeja establish himself as an important player in all formats – T20I, ODI and Tests – and it was the left-arm spinner who got the nod ahead of Ashwin despite the latter possessing an impressive record against the men from the Carribean. Ajinkya Rahane, the vice-captain of the Indian Test team, suggested that it was the overall balance of the team that saw skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri snub Ashwin for the match.

“It’s difficult when you miss a player like Ashwin but team management is always thinking as to what is the best combination. They thought Jadeja was a good option on this wicket as we needed a sixth batsman, who can actually bowl. Vihari can actually bowl on this track. So that was the communication between captain and coach,” Rahane said after the first day's play in Antigua.

It wasn't just Ashwin whose absence raised a few eyebrows but Rohit Sharma's too. The latter has been in sublime touch as far as limited-overs cricket is concerned and was also among runs in the 3-day practice Test that India played against West Indies A. Yet, Rohit was only deemed good for the bench for the opening Test.

“It is hard to find players like Ashwin and Rohit (Sharma) sit out but’s all for the team,” Rahane said on the Hitman's absence.

It wasn't the most productive of outings for the Indian top-order as Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli all departed early in the first session while KL Rahul was dismissed six runs shy of his half-century. It was Rahane who emerged as the top-scoring batsman with an 81-run knock.

For the record, Ashwin has a whopping 552 runs with four hundreds to his name against West Indies and has also taken 60 wickets with four fifers against them, including both home and away fixtures. In a case where the Indian bowling attack struggles against Windies, questions will be raised over Ashwin's absence.